US Senate attempts to complete $1 trillion infrastructure bill
Following months of negotiation and delay, the U.S. Senate was inching closer on Monday to finishing a $1 trillion infrastructure spending bill, with a vote on passage of the bipartisan deal possible by Tuesday.The legislation, which sits atop Democratic President Joe Biden's domestic agenda, clearedan important procedural hurdle late on Sunday when the Senate voted 69-28 in support of the provisions contained in the 2,702-page plan.
The Senate also voted 68-29 to limit further debate to a maximum of 30 hours, setting up a potential vote on passage early on Tuesday. It was still unclear whether senators would reach an agreement on possibly debating more amendments beyond the nearly two dozen voted on over the past week.
During debate on Sunday, Democratic Senator Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada noted the boost for her state's mining industry, saying new money would strengthen "a critical mineral and battery supply chain that supplies key components of cellphones and laptops, electric vehicles, solar panels and more." The Senate had been scheduled to begin a four-week summer recess, but instead found itself in session on both Saturday and Sunday, which saw little more than occasional speeches before the procedural votes.
Even with passage of the bill this week, senators will still not be able to go back to their home states or jump onto foreign trips popular during long recesses.That is because Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer aims to launch immediately into debate of a budget framework that would provide the outlines for a $3.5 trillion "human infrastructure" bill that Democrats want to begin advancing in September.
